What’s more fun than a pajama party with your girlfriends at 15? I’ll tell you, a pajama party in your 80’s!!This is how it happened! My husband went to visit his daughter for a few days, so I invited two of my oldest, dearest friends up to spend the night! (Ok, disclaimer, they are not as old as me.) What fun! First, I took them to the drugstore for some lunch (always a must), with a little shopping and browsing in and around the upper village. Then, my friend, Bobbie bought us tickets to the absolutely stunning Lotus Land for the afternoon tour (which I haven’t been to in years) and afterwards we came back, talked and watched the news (OMG, What is happening in our world?) then Lynne took us out to dinner to the new, vegan restaurant, in town, named Oliver’s in Montecito, where we sat on the beautifully lit patio. As soon as we arrived home we put on our jammies and that’s how we stayed until 1:00 the next day. Talking, talking, talking. Did we run out of things to say? No! Did we get tired of each other? Not a bit! We talked about some of our beloved friends, we have lost but maybe will find again at some point in time. We talked about growing older, our childhood, our young dates (of course, we knew them all), our parents, our kids and grandchildren, our husbands, dead and alive, and the world situation.

As a matter of fact we talked about everything, but the tea in China, as my mother used to say. Did we have enough time? No. We would have still been talking but we felt we needed a little exercise and so we finally left to walk to, you guessed it, lunch! We had lunch, at the Honor Bar, a little browsing on Coast Village Road and walked back to my home. They left that afternoon at about 3:00. It wasn’t enough!New friends are exciting and interesting, but

old friends fit like a pair of comfortable shoes!

We have no secrets from each other. Whatever we say or feel is understood. It takes a long time to build that trust. I loved that PJ party and plan to do it more often, I don’t know about you, but as I grow older, I need to talk about how it feels to age and hear how other people are experiencing it, what they are feeling and thinking. It was cathartic for all of us! We decided a few things. As we grow older, we need good health! (the most important) also what good health looks like, changes over the years and we have to learn to accept that. We need good friends we can trust who accept us for who we are.

We need curiosity about everything that is happening around us and the desire to seek it out.

We need exercise to keep our limbs moving and our heart working and very importantly, we need a purpose in life. We need a way to feel, necessary and helpful, whether it be for our children, grandchildren or total strangers. Sleepovers are recommended for everyone!It brought us back to our youth, in a good way. There were a few tears, I think, but only when we talked about lyrics to songs and how, now, we really understood them.The great thing about being older is that you have nothing to hide, nor do you need to keep to any kind of a schedule.“It is not true that people stop pursuing dreams because they grow old, they grow old because they stop pursuing dreams.” ― Gabriel García MárquezBTW, Those of you who are thinking of coming to Montecito and are a little nervous how it might look, you would never know anything has happened on the main streets. The restaurants and stores are all open and it’s business as usual. The weather is gorgeous and Montecito is waiting with open arms.

What a grand idea... a PJ party..... something I have not done since high school and that is many many moons ago. Love your zest in living Beverly....and what a grand time you had with your long time
friends... Tks for sharing.. Much love, Gerd

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Beverlye

4/18/2018 05:54:54 pm

thanks Gerd. Miss you! Let's find some time

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Lois

4/17/2018 08:06:33 pm

Thanks Bev....that was a fun read....I am happy your life is back to normal .....Hope to connect soon...xoxo Lois

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beverlye

4/18/2018 05:56:39 pm

I'd like that! Can I get up here?

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Patricia Rosenburg

4/17/2018 08:11:07 pm

Oh, Bev, I have certainly missed you and loved being at your PJ party vicariously! And we had PJ parties w/o any TV, which made it even better!
You sound great and do share what you have learned about getting older!! Ha!! Much love to you!

Your words speak volumes - you are a true believer in living life EVERY DAY AND NIGHT TOO to the fullest!

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bever

4/18/2018 05:59:07 pm

thanks , cheryl!! Ready, for Kung Pao

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Linda Russo sloane

4/17/2018 09:14:19 pm

Bev
doing well feel good haven't missed a beat
So far so good
Loved what you wrote
Maybe because I'm glad to read that someone else thinks just like I do
I have such great true friends and family don't take any of it for granted

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bev

4/18/2018 08:30:41 pm

Glad u r doing well!

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Jim hyman

4/17/2018 10:40:25 pm

You were great at them while we were growing up and you are still great at them now! Love those Jammie parties! Xo J

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beverly

4/18/2018 08:37:28 pm

U R invited to the next one!

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Joanne Segel

4/18/2018 08:27:15 am

your vitality joyously expressed abounds. Love to you, old friend

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Beverlye

4/19/2018 07:57:05 pm

Back attcha! Hope u and gil are doing well!!

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Gene Abrams

4/18/2018 09:39:06 am

Loved reading everything. I would have loved being there and evesdropplng on your conversations. Will you be in SV this year for the Wellness Festival?
Much love to you.
As always, Gene

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beverlye

4/19/2018 07:58:59 pm

U r invited to the next one! Miss u too. Not coming until the later part of July. will let u know!

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Natalie Myerson

4/18/2018 12:27:57 pm

You write very well Beverlye. Thank you for sharing with your PJ Party with friends. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely
Natalie Myerson

Always love what you write. You speak from all of our hearts. Want to be put on your list of a sleep over, jammies and all. Nothing better than friends who love you , just because of being you. Without my friends, I would not be the strong women today that I am. Knowing that I have had such terrific support makes you stand tall. Love you Bev.

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Bever

4/19/2018 08:05:42 pm

where would we be without our girlfriends? they are dearer than everLet me know when u want to come up and do some photo shots, my dear friend!

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Bobbi

4/18/2018 04:12:20 pm

The best
Feel soooo luck to have each other and have the health we do

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Maude feil

4/19/2018 08:00:18 am

Dear Beverlye , I just love being in the hood with you, knowing a laugh or cry is close!

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beverlye

4/19/2018 08:03:36 pm

Feel the same , Maude!

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Faye Nuell Mayo

4/19/2018 09:24:23 am

Your PJ party sounds wonderful. I'm happy we have had so many great talks and "private times" through all our years together!